Ukraine War: Russian drone and artillery strikes hit multiple regions, cutting power in seven areas and killing one while wounding dozens, as Kyiv and Moscow step up long-range attacks and peace talks stall. Sanctions & Shipping: France, with UK support, boarded a sanctioned Russian-linked “shadow fleet” tanker in the Atlantic, accusing it of false-flag practices; the Kremlin called it piracy and vowed a response. EU Politics: Armenia’s PM rejected Russian pressure to hold an EU referendum, saying a vote is “illogical” until EU membership becomes inevitable. Migration & Courts: International arbitrators rejected Rwanda’s £100m-plus claims against the UK tied to the scrapped Rwanda migrant deal. Humanitarian Crisis: Afghanistan’s maternal mortality remains among the world’s highest, with UN-linked figures citing gaps in skilled care and female health workers. China & Rights: Human Rights Watch says China is intensifying efforts to erase Tiananmen memory while tightening social control. China Tech & Economy: China issued tighter rules on outbound investment and is pushing AI-led industrial support, while also launching research on “artificial human embryos” in space. Energy & Industry: Russia imposed a temporary ban on jet-fuel exports; in South Africa, high electricity costs are squeezing chrome processing, while a smelter avoided planned job cuts after an electricity deal.